title: Environmental health outcomes and exposure risks among at-risk communities living in the Upper Olifants River Catchment, South Africa.
abstract: Potential exposure to water and air pollution and associated health impacts of three low-income communities in the Upper Olifants River Catchment, South Africa, was investigated through a cross-sectional epidemiological study comprising a household survey. Water samples were collected and analysed for microbial indicators and pathogens. Ambient air-monitoring included some of the criteria pollutants, as well as mercury and manganese. Associations between environmental exposure and health outcomes were analysed by means of logistic regression. Despite poor water and air quality episodes, the communities' self-perceived health was good with relatively low prevalence of reported health outcomes. Hygiene practices with respect to water collection and storage were often poor, and most likely contributed to the regularly contaminated water storage containers. Community proximity to the polluted stream was associated with increased prevalence in adverse health outcomes. This paper reports on preliminary results and additional multivariate analyses are necessary to further understand study results.
authors.affiliation: a Natural Resource and the Environment, CSIR , Pretoria , South Africa .
authors.forename: Juanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Caradee Yael
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Maria Aletta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oosthuizen
authors.forename: Maronel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steyn
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Genthe
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: le Roux
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oberholster
authors.forename: Christiaan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pauw
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004782:Environmental Health; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014871:Water Microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical